The "Rohloff" burst onto the market with a bang in 1996 as a 14-speed gear hub with sporty aspirations. It quickly marked the pinnacle of bicycle technology - and still does today.
14 years and over 120,000 units later, the glittering marvel has hardly lost any of its fascination. Low maintenance, ease of care and function are still neither surpassed nor jeopardised. Six-digit kilometre figures have now been accumulated on examples from the first production series.
The weal and woe of the transmission unit depends on its careful integration into the bike. For example, a mechanism for varying the chain tension is essential. Whether this involves slanted axle slots, a chain tensioner or an eccentric bottom bracket is less important. However, the efficiency of 95 to 98 per cent, depending on the gear engaged, also depends on the correct tension of the link chain. The following applies here: The chain should be able to be pressed in one to one and a half centimetres from the straight line between the sprocket and chainring. The Rohloff has also made itself suitable for the new Gates carbon belt.
The Rohloff bikes in the test:
Cannondale Tesoro Rohloff, http://www.cannondale.com
Idworx Off Rohler, http://www.idworx-bikes.de
Kalkhoff Endeavour, http://www.kalkhoff-bikes.de
KTM Alp Challenge 14 R, http://www.ktm-bikes.at
Sinus Nevada Travel Ed, http://www.sinus-fahrrad.de
Stevens Sovereign Lite R14, http://www.stevensbikes.de
Tout Terrain Via Veneto, http://www.tout-terrain.de
Velotraum 10, http://www.velotraum.de
Utopia Speedster, http://www.utopia-velo.de
Koga Signature KS-TR 28 (29er), http://www.koga.com
You can download the 16-page extra issue from issue 4/2010 in full length as a free PDF file.
